East Bridgewater ready to open portable skate park, named after Victoria Snelgrove

Sara Cline The Enterprise @saraclinenews

Wednesday

Apr 4, 2018 at 6:27 PMApr 4, 2018 at 8:32 PM

Victoria “Torie” Snelgrove died in October 2004 after being struck by a projectile that Boston police fired into a crowd celebrating the Boston Red Sox victory over the New York Yankees in the American League playoffs.

EAST BRIDGEWATER - For years, Diane Carey had a dream of bringing a skate park to town for kids to enjoy.

Richard and Dianne Snelgrove, whose daughter, Victoria Snelgrove, was killed in 2004 after a Red Sox game in Boston, had a dream of creating an area, in memory of their daughter, for kids to call their own.

Now, both dreams are finally coming true.

The Victoria Snelgrove Mobile Skate Park will officially open Sunday afternoon at the East Bridgewater Town Common.

The idea of a skate park in town came about six years ago.

"My boys frequented the old skate park we had in East Bridgewater and when they heard it would be torn done they were devastated , so we formed a group called 'Save EB Skate Park,'" said Carey, the founder of EB BASE, which stands for East Bridgewater Biking and Skating Enrichment.

But it was too late, because the park was demolished soon after.

"So we changed the name to EB BASE," Carey, an East Bridgewater resident, said. "(We) became a town committee, raising money for a new park."

The committee tried to find the perfect spot for the new park, but between limited open land, town insurance and an estimated cost of $200,000 to build it, it was just too difficult.

So they settled on a different idea: A portable skate park.

"We decided a portable park was a more affordable solution and would prevent vandalism and misuse, since it would be packed away and it would not require a lot of land being donated," Carey said.

The committee split from the town, becoming an independent nonprofit organization.

Through various efforts, they were able to raise $10,000.

But still they needed more, which is when Carey bumped into the Snelgroves.

The Snelgrove's daughter, Victoria “Torie” Snelgrove, died in October 2004 after being struck by a projectile that Boston police fired into a crowd celebrating the Boston Red Sox victory over the New York Yankees in the American League playoffs.

Her parents, Richard and Dianne Snelgrove of East Bridgewater, have used proceeds from a settlement with the city of Boston, and money from fundraising, to provide scholarships and build playgrounds in her memory, including one in Easton.

"The Snelgroves believe that every child should have a place to call their own," Carey said. "They have built many playgrounds. The one at the East Bridgewater Middle School was donated by them and in several other surrounding towns, and they also donate scholarships to EBHS graduates and Emerson college students, where Torie was attending at the time of her death."

Through the Victoria Snelgrove Memorial Fund, the Snelgroves donated $25,000 to the skate park, which was enough to independently purchase a “Park in a Box” portable skate park which is named after Victoria.

The park, which Carey said will be set up in school parking lots and the town hall parking lot depending on the day, can be packed up and stored when not in use.

The “Park in a Box” was made by the skateboard company, Freshpark. It is built to accommodate up to 40 skaters at a time and costs $25,000.

The park also comes with 24 sets of pads and helmets, 12 skateboards and 12 scooters to borrow, so no one is left out. It is free to use.

The opening day of the Victoria Snelgrove Mobile Skate Park will be Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. There will be live bands, a BMX show, face painting, raffles and food.

For more information on the park visit the group's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/ebbase/permalink/1443376552399725/ or their twitter @EBmobilesk8park.

"Sometimes people stereotype skateboarders as troublemakers and we know how absurd that is," Carey said. "We want any kids that might otherwise sit in front of their Xbox, or maybe just aren’t into team sports, have a healthy and safe place to challenge themselves, take out frustrations, or just hang out without being yelled at."

Communities

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
Wicked Local East Bridgewater ~ 1324 Belmont St., Unit 102, Brockton, MA 02301 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service